Named Ad Council BOD chair
Yaccarino is named chair of the Ad Council’s Board of Directors. The role of rotates among representatives of four industry sectors: media companies, technology companies, ad agencies and advertisers, and was previosuly held by David Fischer, Chief Revenue Officer of Facebook, Yaccarino joined the Ad Council board in 2014 and became a member of the Executive Committee in 2015. She most recently was vice chair.
There are almost no words to express how proud I am to serve as Chair…The Ad Council shows us what’s possible when we combine the power of responsibility, creativity, credibility, and care for people. It’s an honor to join them in this new capacity.
Promoted to Chair Of Global Advertising & Partnerships
NBCUniversal promotes Yaccarino to chair, Global Advertising and Partnerships, adding data strategy, local and regional sports network sales and cross-company strategic initiatives to her portfolio, along with global and national sales. In a divisional memo, Shell says:
While there is no doubt we are a content and technology company at our core, we need to keep accelerating our business plans to define entertainment and build the future of advertising. With the addition of these strong teams and new initiatives, we’re expanding our offerings for clients while diversifying our business and creating new company-wide opportunities. We’re making the right investments to bring that future into focus.
She will continue to report directly to Jeff Shell, CEO, NBCUniversal, who says:
Linda has done a fantastic job moving the advertising business forward, not just for NBCUniversal, but the industry at large.I’m excited for her to continue architecting the future of the ad-supported ecosystem and uniting all assets of this company to make us the best possible partner for our customers around the world.
Retires ‘from fighting’
McGregor announces his officical retirement from UFC.
Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting.
Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting.
Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!
Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins!
Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you!
Whatever you desire it’s yours ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Dh4ijsZacZ— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 7, 2020
SBJ Power Player
Yaccarino is named a Sports Business Journal Power Player:
Yaccarino makes the entire Olympic broadcast machine run. Behind Mike Tirico, the thousands of NBC Olympics producers and thousands of hours of sports action, sits the advertising revenue and Yaccarino’s team. For eight years, she’s led the sales effort, keeping the Olympics profitable for NBC despite the rapidly changing nature of consumption. Before the postponement, her team had booked a record $1.25 billion for the Tokyo Games.
Announces retirement from MMA
McGregor tweets what appears to be a retirement announcement:
Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today. I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition. I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement. Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!
Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today.
I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.
I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.
Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 26, 2019
McGregor visits Taylor after her titles victory
McGregor was ringside in Boston to watch compatriot Taylor successfully defend her world titles. He then visits Taylor in her dressing room where he praises the WBA and IBF champion.
It is an honour to see you live. Big respect Katie, honestly. You were enjoying it; hand behind your back. But they should have given you a microphone [after you won]. You are a special talent.
Post-fight chaos: Nurmagomedov brawls in crowd, McGregor attacked in octagon
The biggest fight in UFC history ends in chaotic scenes in Las Vegas.
After defeating Mcgregor with a submission, Nurmagomedov leaps over the cage to attack McGregor’s team-mate Danis, sparking a fight. One of the Russian’s entourage then stormed the octagon to punch the prone McGregor in the back of the head in front of 18,000 frenzied spectators, including Hollywood stars such as Mel Gibson.
Both fighters were led away and there was no belt presentation but the ring announcer declared Nurmaomedov the winner, prompting a chorus of boos from the crowd. The Nevada State Athletic commission have withheld Khabib’s $2million pay-check after reviewing footage but decided to award McGregor’s $3million. Three of Nurmagomedov’s team were initially arrested, but McGregor didn’t want to press charges so they were later released.
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1048802711863484417
Finger injury ahead of fight
McGregor reveals he got a tooth embedded in his finger during training for his fight with Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.
I was sparring a 90kg fighter, Ion Pascu, they call him the bomber. Like me, he sometimes spars with no gumshield…I smacked him with a clean shot, and his tooth embedded into my knuckle. Welcome to the fight game, the real fight game. You’ve got to get in and do it, it is what it is.
So, Ion Pascu's tooth got embedded in Conor's finger during sparring pic.twitter.com/yiHtPJCDLr
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 1, 2018
Secretly donates €10,000 to help sick child
McGregor makes an anonymous €10,000 donation to help Irish boy, Bryan Buckley, 5, in his battle with sepsis. McGregor donated the money to Grainne McCullough for the care of her son Bryan, nicknamed Bru. Last September, Bru went into septic shock and was left on life support requiring dialysis, blood transfusions and platelets. Grainne set up a Gofundme page in the hope of raising €10,000 for her son’s care. She says:
Conor has made our dreams come true in so many ways, and I can verify it wasn’t for a publicity stunt, he privately donated to us, I just had to let him know how much we appreciate it.
Report: McGregor taking plea deal to avoid jail, deportation
TMZ reports McGregor will take a plea deal for his charges of one count of felony criminal mischief and three counts of misdemeanor assault. According to sources, prosecutors have agreed to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor, which would mean that McGRegor would be safe from deportation from the U.S.
McGregor spars with Quavo in studio
McGregor has an impromptu sparring session with Quavo in a Dublin recording studio.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlMXpZJnuTn/
Second pregnancy announcement
On McGregor’s 30th birthday, Devlin announces that she is pregnant with the couple’s second child.
Happy 30th birthday babe! Thank you for being you! Love you to bits from me, Conor jr and the bump ❤
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlONZodhRs6/
McGregor given sculpture for 30th birthday
McGregor is gifted a hyper-realistic sculpture of himself, valued at £50,000, by Lithuanian-born sculptor Aspencrow, who spent five months handcrafting the 100kg sculpture from photographs alone. The artist, who has not met McGregor in person, says he knows the fighter has accepted the gift through a mutual friend. The sculpture, entitled Atlas, will be unveiled at London’s JD Malat Gallery on 14 July, McGregor’s 30th birthday.
It is an honour Conor has accepted this as a gift from me. He is a phenomenon of our time – not just a smart athlete, but also a visionary…It’s up to you what you see in it. You can see him as a prisoner, or a God, or just as a person…I like Conor McGregor – he’s a great guy…I feel he’s my soulmate. Some of the decisions he makes might not be correct, but none of us are ideal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkvCUSknl6q/
Buys £1.3m villa in Marbella
McGregor buys £1.3m luxury villa in Marbella complete with customised gym, outdoor pool and LED driveway. The luxury home is one of 11 bespoke villas which sit on the La Resina country club estate. It has uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline of Africa, floor to ceiling windows, and even the bathrooms have views of the sea. The villa comes with all the latest smart home technology and boasts a wine cellar and an elevator.
McGregor, O’Connell meet
After O’Connell gave a big shout out to McGregor on The Late Late Show, the two meet, by chance, the following night, at the BAMMA 35 event in Dublin’s Three Arena.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bise5GUnntS/
Trump names Yaccarino to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition
Yaccarino is named by President Trump to serve a two-year term to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition
Highfield resigns from Johnston Press
Highfield resigns from Johnston press citing family reasons. He will be replaced by chief financial officer David King.
I have been privileged to lead Johnston Press during a period of unprecedented turbulence in our industry. Since 2011 we have grown our overall audience, in particular our digital business, created an industry leading telesales operation and maintained margins. The acquisition of the i newspaper has been a particular highlight. I am proud of what the board and my colleagues have achieved and would like to thank them all for their support.
Johnston Press Chair, Rhodes:
We are sorry that he felt that his personal circumstances required a change at this time. We wish him every success in the next phase of his career. Ashley oversaw the successful acquisition of the i newspaper, has driven growth in our digital footprint, while making substantial progress in reorganising and restructuring our business. We wish him every success in the next phase of his career.
McGregor ‘wants Nurmagomedov fight no matter what it takes’
The Irish Sun reports a source close to McGregor’s camp saying McGregor is desperate to fight Nurmagomedov. The source also says McGregor is ready to pass up on a potential UFC record payday and is willing to do all it takes to make up with UFC boss White, after his Brooklyn arrest. Source:
Conor is trying to do everything he possibly can to get back into the cage and wants Khabib no matter what it takes. He has never wanted a fight so much. He doesn’t care about the money for once, he just wants to get this guy one on one as he feels this whole situation was caused by him and he wants to make him pay. He would take this fight on for peanuts, he wants to make it happen.
McGregor attacks UFC bus, injures Chiesa
McGregor crashes UFC 222 Media Day, held at Barclays Center in New York City, an event intended to promote the upcoming lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway. McGregor, along with a group of men, chases after a coach carrying a number of UFC fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor takes a dolly from the side of the garage and throws it at the coach, breaking a window. Chiesa suffers cuts from broken glass. Chiesa’s coach:
Conor went bananas and put a beating on the van that we were in looking for Khabib. A million security guards had to restrain him. Mike’s cut up now. He’s got marks on him, for sure. I don’t think it’s too serious.
Flies to Ibiza with black eye
McGregor posts an image with his son on a private jet, flying to Ibiza. He has a bruise under his left eye.
We are having lunch on the jet on our way to Ibiza, and he is still after the watch too. My young son is like his father. A ruthless animal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeY5g7EgCmP/